"Most newspaper article events happen
anywhere from days, to months, to years before they reach publication.
Consequently, most newspaper articles on this timeline are preceded by the
date of the newspaper in which they appear." [E.M.]*Color
Code

2006 - Tropical Storm Chris / Atlantic Ocean -
August 1st, 2006: "After a brief lull, the 2006 Atlantic hurricane season
was beginning to heat up with the development of Tropical Storm Chris in
the Western Atlantic, which was poised to become a hurricane as it skirted
just north of the Leeward Islands on August 1, 2006. The third tropical
depression of the Atlantic season formed in the evening of July 31 just to
the east of the Leeward Islands. The tropical depression strengthened into
a weak tropical storm the morning of August 1, and was given the name Chris.
Chris moved in a northwest to west-northwest direction, keeping the center
just to the north the Leeward Islands. [....]"

2006 - Public Debt / U.S.A. - August 2nd, 2006:
"The Outstanding Public Debt [U.S.A.] as of 02 August 2006 at 10:13:22 PM
GMT is: $8,448,289,468,792.98. The estimated population of the United States
is 299,225,495 so each citizen's share of this debt is $28,233.86. The National
Debt has continued to increase an average of $1.68 billion per day since
September 30, 2005! Concerned? Then tell
Congress and the White House!

2006 - Settlement / Conseco Inc. - August 2nd,
2006: "[....] The lawsuit, filed in 2004, alleged that Conseco Life Insurance
Co. forced clients to pay higher premiums on some universal life policies
or surrender them for cash to burnish the parent company's finances. The
suit sought unspecified damages and claimed the practice enabled the suburban
Indianapolis company to add $360 million to its balance sheet." [Based on:
Article (Conseco settles suit), p. C2, S.L.P.D., 08/02/06]

2006 - Holes in Pentagon's
911 Story?- August 2nd, 2006: "Some staff
members and commissioners of the Sept. 11 panel concluded that the Pentagon's
initial story of how it reacted to the 2001 terrorist attacks might have
been part of a deliberate effort to mislead the commission and the public
rather than a reflection of the fog of events on that day, according to sources
involved in the debate. [....] 'We to this day don't know why NORAD (the
North American Aerospace Command) told us what they told us,' said Thomas
Kean, the former New Jersey Republican governor who led the commission. 'It
was just so far from the truth. ... It's one of those loose ends that never
got tied.' [....] For more than two years after the attacks, officials with
NORAD and the FAA provided inaccurate information about the response to the
hijackings. Authorities suggested that U.S. air defenses had reacted quickly,
that jets had been scrambled and that fighters were prepared to shoot down
United Airlines Flight 93 if it threatened Washington. In fact, the commission
reported a year later, evidence showed clearly that the military never had
any of the hijacked airliners in its sights." [Based on: Washington Post
article (Some on 9/11 panel found holes in Pentagon's story) by Dan Eggen,
p. A3, S.L.P.D., 08/02/06] - [Paragraph indents untranscribed. - D.R.D.]

2006 - Trivia / Lead Regulation, U.S.A. - August
2nd, 2006: "A trade association representing lead smelters and battery
manufacturers wants the federal government to give up its main tool for
regulating airborne lead - a proposal that is drawing fire in Missouri. [....]
The EPA was sued in 2004 by the Missouri Coalition for the Environment and
state Attorney General Jay Nixon, who wanted the agency to review - and
preferably tighten - its air emission standards for lead. Both suits stemmed
from concern about pollution from Doe Run Co.'s smelter in Herculaneum, Mo.,
the largest source of lead air emissions in the nation. [....] Lead has been
linked to brain damage and behavioral disorders and developmental problems
in children, as well as reproductive difficulties and high blood pressure
in adults. [....] Doe Run spokeswoman Christi Dixon acknowledged that her
company is a member of the trade association. But she said Doe Run was not
involved in drafting the letter." [Based on: Post-Dispatch Washington
Bureau article (Trade group wants lead off pollutant list / Association
represents smelters, battery manufacturers.) by Gillian Gillers, p. A2, S.L.P.D.,
08/02/06]

2006 - Volcanic Activity / Java, Indonesia -
August 2nd, 2006: "In early August 2006, Merapi Volcano and Semeru Volcano
acted up simultaneously. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer
(MODIS) flying onboard NASAs Terra satellite took this picture [see
link] of the volcanoes on August 2, 2006. Although both volcanoes emitted
plumes, each plume was distinct. In this image, Merapis plume (in the
west) is a steady stream of ash and/or steam. Seremus plume (in the
east) shows discrete bursts of activity that appear as puffballs of ash and/or
steam, connected by a very thin stream. Semerus plume appears to shift
direction, first blowing to the west, then to the south. Each volcano is
topped by a hotspot, outlined in red, where the satellite sensor detected
ground surface temperatures much hotter than the surroundings. In fact, numerous
hotspots dot the island of Java in the top image. Thermal hotspots can result
both from volcanoes and fires. [....]"

2006 - Deeper into Lebanon / Israeli Forces
- August 2nd, 2006: "Israel poured up to 10,000 armored troops into south
Lebanon on Tuesday [08/01/06] and separately sent commandos deep into the
eastern Bekaa Valley, where they raided a Hezbollah-run hospital and captured
guerrillas during pitched battles, a major escalation of the three-week-old
war. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Israeli forces push deeper into Lebanon),
p. A1, S.L.P.D., 08/02/06]

2006 - Typhoon Prapiroon / Eastern Pacific -
August 2nd, 2006: "Typhoon Prapiroon formed in the eastern Pacific on July
31, 2006, off the coast of Luzon, the northernmost of the Philippine Islands.
The tropical depression strengthened to storm status in the next day after
crossing Luzon, and reached typhoon status by early August 2 as it continued
east-northeast across the South China Sea towards the Asian mainland. The
storm system was blamed for some six deaths in the Philippines as it crossed
the island. As of August 3, it was predicted to make landfall in southern
China not far from Hainan Island packing forecasted winds around 115 kilometers
per hour (73 miles per hour). Fishing boats have been ordered into port and
rescue teams are being prepared for possible flooding and landslides.
[....]"

2006 - Signs of Lung Aging / 911 Rescuers, New York
- August 2nd, 2006: "Respiratory function has been so severly compromised
in some World Trade Center rescuers that, as the fifth anniversary of the
attacks approaches, experts are reporting a dramatic aging effect in the
lungs of firefighters and others. [....] The research was conducted by lung
specialists at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx." [Based on: News Services
article (Sept. 11 rescuers show lung aging, experts say), p. A5, S.L.P.D.,
08/02/06]

2006 - Must Turn Over
Phone Records / The New York Times - August
2nd, 2006: "Federal prosecutors investigating a leak about a terrorism funding
inquiry can see the phone records of two New York Times reporters, a federal
appeals court ruled Tuesday [08/01/06]. [....] The case involved stories
written in 2001 by Times reporters Judith Miller and Philip Shenon that revealed
the government's plans to freeze the assets of two Islamic charities, the
Holy Land Foundation and the Global Relief Foundation. Prosecutors claimed
the reporters' phone calls to the charities seeking comment had tipped
the organizations off about the government investigation. U.S. Attorney Patrick
Fitzgerald asked the Times for information about the source of the reports
in 2002, then threatened to subpoena phone company billing records in 2004.
The newspaper sued to block any such effort, saying prosecutors might use
the records to fish for information about the Times' sources for a long list
of stories." [Based on: A.P. article (Court says newspaper must turn over
phone records), p. A4, S.L.P.D., 08/02/06]

The United States invaded Iraq without United nations approval,
and the invasion was based on lies. Now, the United States suggests that
the United Nations do something to repair the damage in the Middle East.
Israel can have nuclear weapons, but Iran can't; India can develop
nuclear energy, but Pakistan is a "grave concern"; North Korea must stop
testing weapons, but the United States recently tested weapons that shot
rockets 5,000 miles.
Israel can protect itself with an overreaction to two kidnappings,
but any nation that wants to defend itself against Israel is a terrorist.
My, my.
Aren't all these wars about trying to "get even" with nations
who have governments that will not deal with the United States? It's about
money and power, that's all. U.S. imperialism par excellence. In other words,
it's about the oil and following U.S. rules. After all the deaths, pain and
suffering caused by the United States, the United States still makes demands
on other nations.

2006 - Soccer Field Bombings / Baghdad, Iraq
- August 3rd, 2006: "Bombs exploded on a soccer field Wednesday [08/02/06],
killing 11 young people. At least 42 other people - two of them Americans
- died elsewhere in sectarian or political violence. Still, Iraq's
president said plans are on track for Iraqis to take over security. [....]"
[Based on: A.P. article (Bombings on soccer field kill 11 in Iraq), p. A17,
S.L.P.D., 08/03/06]

2006 - Moved to Launchpad / Space Shuttle Atlantis
- August 3rd, 2006: "Atlantis is moved [08/02/06] to launchpad for next
shuttle mission" [Based on: Title for A.P. article, p. A5, S.L.P.D., 08/03/06]

2006 - Most Cartwheels / St. Paul Minnesota -
August 4th, 2006: "In front of the state capitol in St. Paul, Minn., a group
of people try to set the world record Thursday [08/03/06] for most cartwheels
performed at one time." [Based on: St. Paul Pioneer Press / The Associated
Press picture caption, p. A5, S.L.P.D., 08/04/06]

2006 - Suspicious Powder / New York Times -
August 4th, 2006: "A second envelope with suspicious white powder and a Sept.
11 image recently arrived at the New York Times, this time with a St. Louis
postmark, according to Reuters News Service. Weeks earlier a similar letter
raised fears of an anthrax attack but was found to be harmless. The envelope
with the St. Louis postmark was discovered Monday [07/31/06]. City authorities
determined the substance inside was 'nonhazardous,' a Times spokeswoman told
Reuters. The letter was addressed by hand to the newspaper and had no return
address, according to Reuters. It was not addressed to a specific person."
[Based on: Staff & Wire Reports article (Powder in envelope is called
'nonhazardous'), p. A5, S.L.P.D., 08/04/06]

2006 - Trivia / Prewar [Iraq] Intelligence Probe, U.S.A.
- August 4th, 2006: "[....] The committee expects to vote on releasing the
two completed reports next month, after Congress returns from its summer
break. The Bush administration still must declassify the information in them
before the reports can be released. [....]" [Based on: MCCLATCHY
NEWSPAPERS article (Drawn-out probe of prewar intelligence takes
step forward / Senate committee has finished two reports, with three more
to go.), p. A6, S.L.P.D., 08/04/06]

2006 - Settlement / American-Amicable Life Insurance
Co. - August 4th, 2006: "The Securities and Exchange Commission and a
group of state insurance regulators said Thursday [08/03/06] that a company
in Texas will pay up to $70 million to settle allegations that it targeted
military personnel with a deceptive sales program. Since 2000, about 57,000
U.S. military service members purchased the Horizon Life product from
American-Amicable Life Insurance Co. and its affiliates, and most earned
little or nothing on their investment. [....] The company neither admitted
nor denied the SEC's allegations, but will discontinue sales of Horizon Life.
[....]" [Based on: A.P. article (SEC settles with firm targeting military
members / Complaint says sales agents promised to make them millionaires.),
p. C10 (last article, last page of Business section), S.L.P.D., 08/04/06]

2006 - No Link? / Moderate Drinking & Alzheimer's
Disease - August 4th, 2006: "[....] 'There is little proof of permanent
neurological effects' from mild to moderate alcohol consumption, said John
Morris, neurological professor at Washington University [Mo.]. He defines
moderate drinking as one to two drinks every day or two. [....] 'Daily alcohol
use had no influence on the development of Alzheimer's disease or the rate
at which the disease progresses,' Monique Williams wrote in an e-mail from
Madrid, Spain, where she presented the findings at a recent conference. [....]
The Washington U. researchers are the first to study longterm effects of
alcohol on memory within the same individuals. Williams presented the study
last month." [Based on: Title for Article (Alzheimer's disease, drinking
not linked, study says / Moderate alcohol consumption doesn't influence dementia,
researchers say.), p. A3, S.L.P.D., 08/04/06]

2006 - Draft Resolution / U.N. Security Council - August
6th, 2006: "The United States and France agreed Saturday [08/05/06] on a
draft Security Council resolution that seeks a full halt to fighting in Lebanon.
[....]" [Based on: A.P. article (U.N. meets on plan to halt fighting in Lebanon),
p. A2, S.L.P.D., 08/06/06]

India's top court has asked Coca-Cola and Pepsi to describe
the ingredients in the soft drinks they sell here [India] amid allegations
the drinks contain high levels of pesticide.
The Supreme Court notice on Friday [08/04/06] came days after
a New Delhi-based independent research body said it found samples of Coke
and Pepsi contained pesticide residue that was 24 times above the limits
set by the Bureau of Indian Standards.
The Center for Science and Environment in New Delhi said it
carried out tests on 57 samples taken from 11 soft drink brands made by Coca-Cola
India and PepsiCo India.
Offices of Coca-Cola and PepsiCo were closed Saturday [08/05/06]
and none of their officials could be reached for comment.
Both companies denied the charges earlier in the week.

2006 - Three Typhoons / Pacific Ocean - August
7th, 2006: "Three different typhoons were spinning over the western Pacific
Ocean on August 7, 2006, when the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer
(MODIS) on NASAs Aqua satellite acquired this image [see link]. The
strongest of the three, Typhoon Saomai, formed in the western Pacific on
August 4, 2006, as a tropical depression. Within a day, it had become organized
enough to be classified as a tropical storm. While Saomai was strengthening
into a storm, another tropical depression formed a few hundred kilometers
to the north, and by August 6, it became tropical storm Maria. Typhoon Bopha
formed just as Maria reached storm status and became a storm itself on August
7. As of August 7, the University of Hawaiis Tropical Storm Information
Center predicted that Bopha and Saomai would continue on tracks that would
take each into China, while Maria would move northwest across the southern
end of Japan. Saomai was predicted to gather strength, while Maria and Bopha
were projected to remain near their current strengths. [....]"

2006 - Geomagnetic Storm / Planet Earth - August
7th, 2006: "A solar wind stream hit Earth this morning, sparking a geomagnetic
storm. The arrival of the stream was unexpected, but the auroras it produced
were a pleasant surprise." [Based on: http://spaceweather.com/]

2006 - Volcanic Activity / Mount Etna, Italy
- August 7th, 2006: "One of the most consistently active volcanoes in the
world, Sicilys Mount Etna has a historical record of eruptions dating
back to 1500 BC. This astronaut photograph captures plumes of steam and possibly
ash originating from summit craters on the mountain: the Northeast Crater
and Central Crater, which includes two secondary craters (Voragine and Bocca
Nuova). Locals heard explosions coming from the rim of the Northeast Crater
on July 26, 2006, and the plumes shown in this image are likely a continuation
of that activity. The massive 3,350-meter-high volcano is located approximately
24 kilometers north of Catania, the second largest city in Sicily, and dominates
the citys northern skyline. [....]"

2006 - "Dead Zone" / Northwest Coast, U.S.A. -
August 7th, 2006: "Bottom fish and crabs washing up dead on Oregon beaches
are being killed by a recurring 'dead zone' of low-oxygen water that is larger
than in previous years and may be triggered by global warming, scientists
said. There are signs it is spreading north to Washington's Olympic Peninsula.
[....]" [Based on: A.P. article ('Dead zone' spreads on northwest coast,
littering the beaches with fish, crabs), p. A3, S.L.P.D., 08/07/06]

2006 - Volcanic Activity / Luzon Island,
Philippines - August 7th, 2006: "A volcano in the Philippines sent six
explosions of ash about a half-mile into the air Monday [08/07/06], prompting
authorities to evacuate tens of thousands of people. About 35,000 villagers
were being evacuated Monday, and an additional 20,000 people will be moved
out if there is a major eruption, said Gov. Fernando Gonzalez of Albay province,
about 210 miles southeast of Manila on Luzon Island." [Based on: News Services
article (Ash from volcano prompts evacuations), p. A5, S.L.P.D., 08/08/06]

2006 - Cut in Half / North Slope Oil Production,
Alaska - August 7th, 2006: "Half the oil production on Alaska's North
Slope was being shut down Sunday [08/06/06] after BP Exploration Alaska,
Inc. discovered severe corrosion and a small spill from a Prudhoe Bay oil
transit line. [....]" [Based on: News Services article (Field's oil production
will be cut in half), p. A3, S.L.P.D., 08/07/06]

2006 - Completed Cabinet / Afghanistan - August
8th, 2006: "Afghanistan's Parliament approved President Hamid Karzai's choices
for the vacant portfolios in his cabinet on Monday [08/07/06], as his U.S.-backed
government struggled with a resurgent Taliban militia and floods in the south.
The slots had been left empty when parliament rejected five of the 25 people
Karzai initially chose in April. The completed Cabinet is the first approved
by the parliament since it was elected last year. All the new ministers were
educated abroad." [Based on: News Services article (Parliament's action completes
cabinet), p. A5, S.L.P.D., 08/08/06]

2006 - Major Oil Spill / Lebanese Coast - August
8th, 2006: "Among the casualties of the conflict between Lebanon and Israel
in the summer of 2006 was the Mediterranean. Israeli raids in mid-July on
the Jiyyeh Power Station released thousands of tons of oil along the Lebanese
coast, perhaps rivaling the Exxon Valdex accident in 1989. By August 8, the
spill covered approximately 120 kilometers (75 miles). The Moderate Resolution
Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) flying onboard NASAs Terra satellite
took this picture [see link] on August 15, 2006. The United Nations, the
European Union, and the International Maritime Organization planned a meeting
for August 17 to discuss cleanup operations, which had been delayed by the
fighting between the neighboring countries. [....]"

2006 - Trivia / U.S. Rape Investigation, Iraq -
August 8th, 2006: "American soldiers took turns raping a 14-year-old Iraqi
girl, and one of them put a bullet through her head after killing her parents
and 5-year-old sister, an Army investigator testified Monday [08/07/06].
[....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Soldiers took turns at rape, investigator
says / Hearing is held in killing of Iraqi family.), p. A6, S.L.P.D., 08/08/06]

2006 - Trivia / Radioactive Tritium Leak, Illinois
- August 8th, 2006: "AmerenUE acquires land near plant [Braidwood Generating
Station in Illinois] leak / Deal was made before disclosure in June that
radioactive tritium had leaked along pipeline." [Based on: Title for Article,
p. A1, S.L.P.D., 08/08/06]

2006 - Unions Growing?
/ Wal-Mart Stores, China - August
8th, 2006: "Employees at two more Wal-Mart stores in China have formed unions,
raising the number to four amid efforts by labor officials to have the U.S.
retailing giant's 60 Chinese outlets unionized, an official newspaper said
Monday [08/07/06]. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Union grows at China's
Wal-Marts / Group focuses more on worker, company relations rather than wages,
benefits.), p. C3, S.L.P.D., 08/08/06]

*Trivia:
"Wal-Mart seeks talks with labor group in
China after employees vote for union / Workers at five stores have formed
unions, and the labor group is pushing to organize all 60 of China's Wal-Mart
outlets." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for A.P. article, p. B3, S.L.P.D.,
08/10/06]

2006 - Could Aid Stem Cell Study / Planarian Flatworm
- August 8th, 2006: "The planarian's stem cells enable it to grow an
entire new worm from a tiny piece of almost any part of its body." [Based
on: Picture caption for Article (Worm could aid study of human stem cells),
p. A3, S.L.P.D., 08/08/06]

2006 - Emergency Response Drill / St. Louis, Mo.
- August 9th, 2006: "The massive emergency response drill at Busch Stadium
on Wednesday [08/09/06] started not with a bang but with a downpour [of rain].
[....]" [Based on: Article (Disaster is the name of the game at Busch) by
Greg Jonsson, p. C1, S.L.P.D., 08/10/06]

2006 - American Obesity Linked to Soda, Sugary
Drinks - August 9th, 2006: "Americans have sipped and slurped their way
to fatness by drinking far more soda and other sugary drinks during the past
four decades, a new scientific review [see: the American Journal of Clinical
Nutrition - 08/08/06] concludes. An extra can of soda a day can pile on 15
pounds in a single year. The 'weight of evidence' strongly suggests that
this sort of increased consumption is a key reason that more people have
gained weight, the researchers say. [....] Unlike other carbohydrates, the
main sweetner in beverages - high-fructose corn syrup - doesn't spur production
of insulin to make the body 'process' calories. Neither does it spur leptin,
a substance that helps to moderate appetite. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article
(New study links American obesity to soda, sugary drinks), p. A3, S.L.P.D.,
08/09/06]

2006 - Will Remove
Name from November Ballot / Tom DeLay -
August 9th, 2006: "DeLay will remove his name from ballot" [Based on: Title
for News Services article, p. A3, S.L.P.D., 08/09/06]

2006 - Ash Plumes / Manam and Langila Volcanoes,
Papua New Guinea - August 9th, 2006: "On August 9, 2006, two volcanoes
in the region of Papua New Guinea emitted plumes at the same time. The Moderate
Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASAs Aqua satellite
managed to catch both volcanoes in the act. [....]"

One essential feature of "defense" in the case of a second major attack on
America, is "offense", according to Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff:
"Homeland security is one piece of a broader strategy [which] brings the
battle to the enemy."(DHS, Transcript of complete March 2005 speech of Secr.
Michael Chertoff)

In the month following last year's 7/7 London bombings, Vice President Dick
Cheney is reported to have instructed USSTRATCOM to draw up a contingency
plan "to be employed in response to another 9/11-type terrorist attack on
the United States". Implied in the contingency plan is the certainty that
Iran would be behind a Second 9/11.

This "contingency plan" uses the pretext of a "Second 9/11", which has not
yet happened, to prepare for a major military operation against Iran, while
pressure was also exerted on Tehran in relation to its (non-existent) nuclear
weapons program.

What is diabolical in this decision of the US Vice President is that the
justification presented by Cheney to wage war on Iran rests on Iran's involvement
in a hypothetical terrorist attack on America, which has not yet occurred:

The plan includes a large-scale air assault on Iran employing both conventional
and tactical nuclear weapons. Within Iran there are more than 450 major strategic
targets, including numerous suspected nuclear-weapons-program development
sites. Many of the targets are hardened or are deep underground and could
not be taken out by conventional weapons, hence the nuclear option. As in
the case of Iraq, the response is not conditional on Iran actually being
involved in the act of terrorism directed against the United States. Several
senior Air Force officers involved in the planning are reportedly appalled
at the implications of what they are doingthat Iran is being set up
for an unprovoked nuclear attackbut no one is prepared to damage his
career by posing any objections. (Philip Giraldi, Attack on Iran: Pre-emptive
Nuclear War , The American Conservative, 2 August 2005)

Are we to understand that US, British and Israeli military planners are waiting
in limbo for a Second 9/11, to extend the war beyond the borders of Lebanon,
to launch a military operation directed against Syria and Iran? [....]

[Based on: GlobalResearch.ca Article segment (The Pentagon's "Second 911"
- "Another [9/11] attack could create both a justification and an opportunity
to retaliate against some known targets"), by Michel Chossudovsky, 08/10/06]

2006 - Trivia / Typhoon Saomai, China
Coast - August 10th, 2006: "The most powerful typhoon to hit China
in five decades [Typhoon Saomai, with winds up to 135 mph] raged across its
southeastern coast Thursday [08/10/06], capsizing ships and destroying homes
after 1.5 million people evacuated. At least 111 [as of 08/12/06, at least
150] people were killed and 80 injured. [....] Torrential rain was forecast
in the next three days as the typhoon churned inland across crowded areas
where Tropical storm Billis killed more than 600 people last month." [Based
on: A.P. article (Powerful Typhoon lashes China), p. A8, S.L.P.D.,
08/11/06]

2006 - Erasing Process? / Kenneth Lay Felony Convictions
- August 10th, 2006: "Lawyers for Enron Corp. founder Kenneth Lay took
their first official step Wednesday [08/09/06] toward erasing his felony
convictions in light of his death last month. If U.S. District Judge Sim
Lake does as expected and vacates Lay's convictions, federal prosecutors
no longer would be able to seize millions they say Lay gained from participating
in Enron's fraud because the company founder's criminal convictions would
no longer exist." [Based on: Article (Lay's lawyers begin erasing process),
p. B2, S.L.P.D., 08/10/06]

2006 - Market Report / U.S.A. - August 9th, 2006: "Stocks
rose for the first time in five days Thursday [08/10/06] as better-than-expected
earnings and lower oil prices helped overcome renewed concerns about the
threat of terrorism" [Based on: Bloomberg News article (Stocks rise
for first time in five days on earnings, oil), p. D4, S.L.P.D., 08/11/06]

2006 - Trivia / Federal Deficit, U.S.A. -
August 11th, 2006: "The federal deficit through July is running well below
the rate last year, paced by strong revenue growth, the Treasury Department
said Thursday [08/10/06]. Through the first 10 months of this budget year,
the deficit totaled $239.7 billion, an improvement of 20.8 percent from the
same period a year ago, when it was $302.8 billion. The deficit in July totaled
33.2 billion, down sharply from $53.4 billion in July 2005." [Based on: Article
(Revenue makes big dent), p. B2, 08/11/06]

2006 - Trivia / Alzheimer's & "Aging"
- August 11th, 2006: "Scientists have discovered molecular janitors that
clear away a sticky gunk blamed for Alzheimer's disease - until they get
old and quit sweeping up. [....] The discovery was published Thursday [08/10/06]
in the journal Science. It centers on a tiny roundworm called C. elegans.
[....] About 4.5 million Americans have Alzheimer's, a toll expected to more
than triple by 2050 as the population grays. Nobody knows what causes
Alzheimer's. The lead suspect is a gooey protein called beta-amyloid. All
brains contain it, although healthy cells somehow get rid of access amounts.
But beta-amyloid builds up in Alzheimer's patients. Thursday's study reveals
one way that cells fend off amyloid buildup, and that natural aging gradually
erodes that detoxification process. Dillin's [Dr. Andrew Dillin, a biologist
at California's Salk Institute for Biological Studies] team used roundworms
that produce human beta-amyloid in the muscles of the body wall. As the worms
age, amyloid builds up until it eventually paralyzes them; they can wiggle
only their heads. Then the researchers altered genes in a pathway called
insulin/IGF-1, long known to be key in controlling life span. Making the
worms live longer protected them from paralysis. So in slowing down normal
aging, something also slowed the buildup of toxic amyloid. But what? Enter
those cellular janitors, two proteins in that gene pathway. One, named HSF-1,
breaks apart amyloid and disposes of it, the researchers discovered. Natural
aging slows HSF-1. Another protein called DAF-16 jumps in to help buy a little
more time, by clumping extra amyloid together in a way that makes it less
toxic." [Based on: A.P. article (Alzheimer's discovery centers on roundworm),
p. A8, S.L.P.D., 08/11/06]

*Trivia: "Americans have sipped and slurped
their way to fatness by drinking far more soda and other sugary drinks during
the past four decades, a new scientific review [see: the American Journal
of Clinical Nutrition - 08/08/06] concludes. An extra can of soda a day can
pile on 15 pounds in a single year. The 'weight of evidence' strongly suggests
that this sort of increased consumption is a key reason that more people
have gained weight, the researchers say. [....] Unlike other carbohydrates,
the main sweetner in beverages - high-fructose corn syrup - doesn't spur
production of insulin to make the body 'process' calories. Neither does it
spur leptin, a substance that helps to moderate appetite. [....]" [Based
on: A.P. article (New study links American obesity to soda, sugary drinks),
p. A3, S.L.P.D., 08/09/06]

*Trivia: [....] The book "The China Study" by
T. Colin Campbell convincingly shows that large amounts of animal protein
and refined sugars such as in candy, cakes and sodas, are making us sick
with cancer, heart disease, kidney disease, obesity and other fatal diseases.
The book includes supporting research.
Unfortunately, the profit-based food and pharmaceutical industries
do not want us to have such information and never mention that a plant-based
diet is important for good health and to avoid these fatal illnesses. We
eat too much animal protein. Our protein needs can be fulfilled with a
plant-based diet.

*Trivia: "Scientists have discovered a variant
gene that leads to a sizable extra risk of Type 2 diabetes and is carried
by more than a third of the American population. [....]" [Based on: New
York Times article (Variant gene carries extra diabetes risk) by Nicholas
Wade, p. A6, S.L.P.D., 01/16/06]

*Trivia: "Women who drink nondiet soda or fruit
punch every day gain weight quickly and face a sharply elevated risk of getting
diabetes, according to a major study released Tuesday [08/24/04]. [....]
'The message is: Anyone who cares about their health or the health of their
family would not consume these beverages,' said Walter Willet of the Harvard
School of Public Health, who helped conduct the study. [....] Although the
study involved only women, the researchers believed that the risks also hold
for men. [....] The sugar and beverage industries said the study was flawed."
[Based on: Washington Post article byRob Stein,
08/25/04]

*Trivia: "Coke and Pepsi, trying to add fizz
into their soda sales, will launch new brands that taste like their flagship
drinks but contain half the sugar, carbohydrates and calories. [....] The
new drinks contain the standard high-fructose corn syrup that sweetens regular
soda but in smaller amounts. The corn syrup is supplemented with Splenda,
a no-calorie, no-carbohydrate sweetner made from sugar. [....] Pepsi
says a 12-ounce can of Edge has 20 grams each of sugar and carbohydrates,
and 70 calories, compared with regular Pepsi's 41 grams each of sugar and
carbohydrates, and 150 calories." [Based on A.P. article,
05/05/04]

*Trivia: "Researchers say they've found more
evidence of a link between a rapid rise in obesity and a corn product
[high-fructose corn sweetener] used to sweeten soft drinks and food since
the 1970s." [Based on: A.P. article, 03/26/04]

2006 - Buyout Trivia
/ Andarko Petroleum Corp. - August 11th,
2006: "Shareholders for Kerr-McGee Corp. approved a $16.4 billion buyout
agreement Thursday [08/10/06] with a subsidiary of fellow oil and naturasl
gas producer Anadarko Petroleum Corp. Houston-based Andarko announced in
June that it would buy Oklahoma City-based Kerr-McGee and pay $4.7 billion
to buy Denver-based Western Gas Resources in a move to more than double its
annual sales. Kerr-McGee stockholders will get $70.50 per share in cash for
each share of common stock." [Based on: Article (Kerr-McGee OKs buyout),
p. B2, 08/11/06]

2006 - Settlement / Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
- August 11th, 2006: "Securities regulators have ordered a division of
Citigroup Inc. to pay $1.1 million in fines and restitution for allegedly
allowing more than 100 of its brokers to submit false disability claims for
customers so thay they wouldn't have to pay certain mutual fund fees. The
National Association of Securities Dealers on Thursday [08/10/06] announced
the settlement with Citigroup Global Markets Inc., which agreed to pay $400,000
in civil fines and $715,000 in restitution to affected mutual fund companies."
[Based on: Article (Citigroup unit settles), p. B2, 08/11/06]

2006 - Thwarted / "911-Style" Terrorist Plot,
England - August 11th, 2006: "British authorities said Thursday
[08/10/06] that they had thwarted an advanced terrorist plot to blow up airplanes
flying from Britain to the United States, using liquid explosives that would
have escaped airport security. [....] Intelligence officials said they believed
some plotters remained at large, requiring increased airport security. [....]
Officials said the plot bore the hallmarks of al-Qaida and involved links
to plotters in Pakistan. [....]" [Based on: New York Times article
(British police seize 24 men) by Alan Cowell & Dexter Filkins), pp. A1-A5,
S.L.P.D., 08/11/06]

*Trivia: "The plot had been in the works for
months, and its goal was horrific. One after another, according to investigators,
planes would have exploded in the sky, sending hundreds of men, women and
children to their deaths. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (To some, plot
looks like 'the Big One' feared since 9/11), by Paul Haven, p. A3, S.L.P.D.,
08/11/06]

*Trivia: "It all began with a tip: In the aftermath
of the subway bombings in London on July 7, 2005, British authorities got
a call from a worried Muslim, reporting general suspicians about an acquaintance.
[....] Investigators eventually pieced together enough information from a
blizzard of stakeouts, tips and wiretaps to make clear that something big
was in the works - and that the 'plotters' preparations were nearing an end.
[....] British officials suspect that as many as 50 participants and
accomplices were involved, U.S. law enforcement officials said. Internet
searches made by the suspects suggested that they had considered targeting
up to 10 flights, investigators said. [....] Counterterrorism officials said
the basic outline of the conspiracy had been known for several months.
Investiagtors from New York to Islamabad said they had been briefed by their
British counterparts last year. British and U.S. law-enforcement authorities
decided against breaking up the cells right away in the hope that they could
learn more about the origins of the network and assemble evidence for
prosecutors. But U.S. and British investigators suddenly decided this week
to close down the operation after becoming increasingly worried that there
were other bombers they had failed to locate or identify, U.S. officials
said. [....] British officials would not say if they were able to recover
any physical evidence or bombmaking material. Neither would they describe
what kind of liquid explosives the suspects were planning to use. [....]
Pakistani officials said Thursday [08/10/06] that they had been informed
about the plot by their British counterparts in December and have actively
assisted with the investigation. 'We were in the loop since the blip appeared
on the radar screen in London last year,' a senior Pakistani intelligence
officials said. [....]" [Based on: Washington Post article (Vague
tip from worried Muslim started inquiry), by Craig Whitlock & Dafna Linzer,
p. A4, S.L.P.D., 08/11/06] - [Paragraph indents untranscribed
- D.R.D.]

*Trivia: "[....] For the first time in the United
States, the threat assessment level on trans-Atlantic flights was raised
to its highest - 'red.' As was the case in Britain, stringent new security
measures were enforced. [....]" [Based on: Post-DispatchWashington
Bureau article (Bomb plot foiled / But repercussions are felt on both
sides of Atlantic), by Philip Dine, p. A1, S.L.P.D., 08/11/06]

*Trivia: "[....] Although it is unclear how close the plotters were
to acting, or how capable they were of carrying out the attacks, intelligence
and law enforcement officials have described the planning as well advanced.
[....]" [Based on: (sentence from) New York Times article (British
officials are willing to wait, watch terrorism suspects) by Philip Shenon
and Neil A. Lewis, p. A13, S.L.P.D., 08/13/06]

2006 - Civil Fraud Charges / Former Endocare Inc.
Exec's - August 11th, 2006: "The Securities and Exchange Commission said
Thursday [08/10/06] it has filed civil fraud charges against two former Endocare
Inc. executives for orchestrating a fraud in 2001 and 2002. The SEC accused
Paul Mikus, a former chief executive, and John Cracchiolo, a former chief
financial officer, of booking false sales and understating or delaying expenses
in order to inflate earnings." [Based on: Article (SEC sues 2 executives),
p. B2, 08/11/06]

An unmarried couple and their three children,
who were denied an occupancy permit in Black Jack [Mo.] because they failed
to meet the city's definition of family, are taking their fight to court.
Their lawsuit, filed Thursday [08/10/06], comes as Black Jack's
City Council reviews a plan by Mayor Norman McCourt to amend the city's housing
ordinance. The ordinance prohibits more than three people from living together
in single-family housing unless they are related by "blood, marriage, or
adoption." [....]

2006 - Sentenced to Home Detention / Former Wal-Mart
Exec. - August 12th, 2006: "Thomas M. Coughlin, the former vice chairman
at Wal-Mart Stores Inc., on Friday [08/11/06] was sentenced to 27 months
of home detention, avoiding a prison term after admitting he falsified expense
reports to buy liquor, care for his dogs and upgrade his truck. [....]" [Based
on: Bloomberg News article, p. A31, S.L.P.D., 08/12/06]

2006 - Bipolar Sunspot 904 - August 13th, 2006:
"Bipolar sunspot 904 hasn't actually erupted, not in a big way, but it is
crackling with promise. "The two giant spots look like whirlpools of gasoline,"
says photographer Larry Alvarez of Flower Mound, Texas. He took this picture
[see link] on August 13th: [....]"

2006 - Internet User's Queries / "Big Brother" is
Watching? - August 13th, 2006: "[....] Many people might not realize
that every time they enter a word or phrase into an online search engine,
they leave behind a trail of clues about themselves. 'You are turning over
when you do searches ... a lot of information,' said Ari Schwartz, of the
Center for Democracy and Technology, a nonprofit public policy organization.
'It seems as though you're just dealing with a computer, but in reality,
on the other side, that information will be stored and collected. We forget
that sometimes.' The public got a sharp reminder recently when AOL, an Internet
service company, released more than 20 million search queries made by 658,000
customers over a three-month period. AOL posted the data on its research
site in late July as part of what a spokesman called 'an innocent enough
attempt' to provide academic researchers with information to help develop
new research-related tools. To provide anonymity, the data assigned numbers
rather than names to users. But many queries provided plenty of hints that
made it easy to identify many of those seeking the information. Some were
obvious, like names, Social Security numbers and addresses. Others are more
of a road map, such as interests, local businesses, medication, doctors.
'It was obviously not appropriately vetted, and if it had been, it would
have been stopped in an instant,' AOL spokesman Andrew Weinstein said in
a prepared statement. The company, based in Dulles, Va., pulled the data
Aug. 6 and apologized. By then it was too late, privacy experts say. [....]"
[Based on: St. Louis Post-Dispatch article (Be careful what you type
in here: / Clues from your online searches could provide an unintended peek
in here:) - article contained an illustrated picture of the human brain,
by Phillip O'Connor, p. A1, S.L.P.D., 08/13/06] - [Paragraph indents
untranscribed to save space - D.R.D.]

*Commentary:

Years ago a test subject exposed to
sensory stimulation was made to move his arm and his leg by scientists who
targeted specific areas of his brain. In response, the test subject declared
in effect that "You can make me move my arm. You can make me move my leg.
But you can't make me want to." The investigators concluded that they were
still not able to determine the location of the human mind, or whether or
not it was absolutely "located" within the human brain.
As further evidence and testimony to the previously attested
fact, people diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and/or other physical
disabilities have constantly demonstated how they are in fact more than
the contents of their brains. Consequently, to suggest that a person's
physical actions are a true reflection about the intricate workings and/or
makeup of their minds, this is at best a gross testimony in alliance with
extreme prejudice on the part of human objective observervation. In the extreme,
such types of intentionally covert human speculation could only effectively
serve to assassinate the true essential character and makeup of individual
constitution. Nothing could be more further from the truth, more degrading
or more potentially manipulative than to imply that all "people" are
NOT created equal. Or to imply that Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness
are NOT the unalienable constitutional rights of every single person living
within the United States of America.
[D.R.D., a.k.a. Etznab
Mathers]

2006 - Cease Fire? / Israel & Lebanon -
August 14th, 2006: "Offensive barrage on eve of cease-fire [08/13/06] / Fighting
rages on: Israel, which lost 29 soldiers over the weekend, bombs Beirut.
Hezbollah fires 250-plus rockets, the most in one day. / Will the truce stick?:
Both sides endorse it, but questions remain about how they would behave during
the time needed to assemble a U.N. force." [Based on: Title &
Subtitles for MCCLATCHY NEWSPAPERS article, p. A1,
S.L.P.D., 08/14/06]

*Trivia: "[....] U.N. experts say up to one
million cluster bombs dropped by Israeli aircraft in the July-August war
against Hezbollah remain unexploded in south Lebanon, where they continue
to threaten civilians. At least 24 people have died in cluster-bomb explosions
since the war ended Aug. 14." [Based on: News Services article (U.N. accuses
Israel of planting mines), p. A10, S.L.P.D., 11/26/06]

2006 - Threatened Extinction / Amphibians? -
August 14th, 2006: "[....] In the next five to ten years, about half of the
different kinds of animals that make up the class known as amphibians probably
will become extinct. There are about 6,000 known species in the class of
amphibians: frogs, toads and salamanders take in most of them. As I
write this, 32 percent of those 6,000 are threatened, and another 23 percent
are believed to be threatened. [....] There is a fungus, which was born in
Africa, that is sweeping our planet. It's called the chytrid fungus, and
wherever it arrives, it kills about 80 percent of the amphibians in the area
within a year. It is lethal only at certain altitudes, so it won't destroy
all of the world's amphibians, but more than half is a pretty conservative
estimate. [....] The skin of amphibians is more permeable than ours - things
pass through it fairly easily - so they have developed some unique biological
strategies to protect themselves. For example, their skin produces a wide
variety of substances that kill microbes and viruses. Last year 14 of these
substances, taken from just a handful of different frog species, were tested
in a lab; three of the 14 showed a remarkable capacity to completely inhibit
HIV infection. I was surprised that a discovery that shows such promise for
inhibiting the mucosal transmission of AIDS didn't make the news, but maybe
I shouldn't be: The fact that we're going to have some very silent
nights on this planet in just a few short years hasn't attracted much attention,
either. [....] It is not too late to save many - perhaps most, maybe even
all - of the amphibians. They are comparatively easy to find and keep healthy
in zoos and aquariums until it's safe to release them back into the wild.
[....]" [Based on: Other Views Page article (What do we lose if we lose the
frogs?) by president and chief executive of the St. Louis Zoo, Jeffery P.
Bonner, p. B9, S.L.P.D., 08/14/06] - [Paragraph indents untranscribed to
save space - D.R.D.]

*Trivia: "Bombs were source of deadly blast
in Iraq / U.S. officials reversed an earlier explanation that an accidental
gas explosion was the cause." [Based on: Title for Washington Post
article, p. A4, S.L.P.D., 08/16/06]

2006 - In Talks with
Insurgent Army / Uganda - August 14th, 2006:
"Uganda asked Sunday [08/13/06] for international monitors to observe any
cease-fire it reaches with the Lord's Resistance Army, which has led a 19-year
insurgency. Negotiations between the government and the rebel group are under
way. Uganda says it is waiting for a comprehensive deal before it agrees
to a cease-fire. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Uganda is in talks with
insurgent army), p. A8, S.L.P.D., 08/14/06]

2006 - Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
/ "60 Minutes" Show - August 14th, 2006:
"[....] In an interview airing Sunday [08/13/06] on '60 Minutes,' Ahmadinejad
said it was hezbollah that had a right to defend itself in its war with Israel.
Even so, he said Iran joined others in calling for an immediate cease-fire
only to have it thwarted by U.S. support for Israel. [....] 'Look at the
makeup of the American administration, the behavior of the American
administration. See how they talk down to my nation,' Ahmadinejad said. 'They
want to build an empire. And they don't want to live side by side in peace
with other nations.' " [Based on: A.P. article (Iran blames U.S. for growing
violence), p. A7, S.L.P.D., 08/14/06]

*Trivia: "Flooding from 11 days of heavy rain
has killed at least 626 people across Ethiopia, and authorities Wednesday
[08/16/06] braced for a rising death toll as overwhelmed rescuers struggled
to locate missing villagers. [....]" Based on: Title for News Services article),
p. A6, S.L.P.D., 08/17/06]

2006 - Tropical Storm Wukong / Japanese Islands
- August 15th, 2006: "Tropical Storm Wukong formed in the western Pacific
on August 12, 2006 as a tropical depression. Within a day, it had become
organized enough to be classified as a tropical storm and earn its name.
Wukong is the name of the Monkey King in a Chinese legend, 'Journey to the
West.' As of August 15, it was projected to cross the southern end of the
Japanese Islands on August 18. It was not predicted to become significantly
more powerful, according to the Shanghai Daily News. [....]"

2006 - Scenes of Destruction / Israel &
Lebanon - August 15th, 2006: "[....] The conflict killed nearly 950 people
- 791 in Lebanon and 155 on the Israeli side, according to official counts.
The conflict displaced 500,000 Israelis and about 1 million Lebanese. The
truce took effect at 8 a.m. Monday .... It largely held through its first
day, although skirmishes killed six Hexbollah guerrillas. [....] A United
Nations force that now has 2,000 peacekeepers in south Lebanon is to grow
to 15,000 soldiers. Lebanon's army will send in a 15,000-man contingent.
[....] In the 34-day clash, Hezbollah is believed to have suffered heavy
casualties. Although the group says only 68 fighters were killed, Israel
put the number closer to 400. Olmert also claims his army largely destroyed
Hezbollah's arsenal. [....] The Israelis said they had lost 118 in combat.
The civilian toll was enormous - 692 in Lebanon and 39 in Israel. And damage
to Lebanese infrastructure was sure to run into billions of dollars. [....]"
[Based on: A.P. article (Returning Lebanese are shocked by scenes of destruction)
by Steven R. Hurst, p. A10 (last page of section "A"), S.L.P.D., 08/15/06]
- [Paragraph indents untranscribed - D.R.D.]

2006 - Moved out of White House / U.S. Press Corps
- August 15th, 2006: "Press corps moves [1st time in 100 years] operations
out of White House [08/14/06] to allow for repairs [for the next nine months]"
[Based on: Title for A.P., p. A3, S.L.P.D., 08/15/06] - [Brackets text added
for clarity - D.R.D.]

2006 - Claims 29-Foot Cross / U.S. Department of
Defense - August 15th, 2006: "President George W. Bush on Monday [08/14/06]
signed a law transfering a 29-foot-tall Latin cross high on a hill
in San Diego from the city to the federal government, stepping into a
long-running dispute over the separation of church and state. [....] The
legislation Bush signed essentially uses eminent domain to transfer the memorial
land from city ownership to the Department of Defense. The private group
that built the cross, the Mount Soledad Memorial Association, will continue
to maintain it. Judges in state and federal courts have repeatedly ruled
that the cross violates the California Constitution." [Based on: News Services
article (Bush signs law to transfer disputed cross), p. A4, S.L.P.D., 08/15/06]

2006 - Withdraw from November Primary / U.S. Rep.
Bob Ney - August 15th, 2006: "[....] Ney announced that he would withdraw
from the race a week ago, citing the strain of a growing corruption investigation
that had focussed for months on his dealings with lobbyists. The six-term
congressman [Republican] denies any wrongdoing and has not been charged.
[....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Primary will determine Rep. Ney's replacement
/ Ohio congressman denies any wrongdoing in corruption case.), p. A4, S.L.P.D.,
08/15/06]

2006 - Moves to Protypes / Future Combat Systems
- August 16th, 2006: "Boeing Co's Future Combat Systems passed its most
important milestone this year and can move into its next phase of development,
in which prototypes are designed and tested, U.S. Army officials said Tuesday.
[....] Future Combat Systems is a new family of manned and unmanned vehicles
that are linked by high-speed digital communications, unmanned drones and
new combat radios." [Based on: Article (Future Combat Systems moves to
prototypes), p. D2, S.L.P.D., 08/15/06]

2006 - Volcanic Eruption / Tungurahua Volcano, Ecuador
- August 16th, 2006: "Dozens of people were missing, hundreds of families
were evacuated, and three villages were gone in the wake of an eruption of
the Tungurahua Volcano in mid-August 2006. A month earlier, the volcano affected
nearby residents and agriculture, but this eruption was worse. According
to news reports, a serious eruption began on August 16, 2006, sending a column
of volcanic ash 8 kilometers (5 miles) into the sky and raining lava and
hot rocks on the surrounding area. Nothing remained of the villages of Chilibu,
Choglontuz, and Palitagua, and the flow of lava and molten rock blocked the
Patate, Puela, and Chambo Rivers. As of August 18, at least five people had
died, and more casualties were expected. [....]"

2006 - National Scandal? / Israel - August 17th,
2006: "[....] Halutz [Israeli air force Lt. Gen. Dan Halutz] said he had
asked his secretary to call his banker before he learned of the abduction
[of Ehud Goldwasser & Eldad Regev]. It was a coincidence that the sell
order [of his $27,500 stock portfolio?] came after Israeli soldiers stormed
into Lebanon in a failed effort to free the soldiers. [....]" [Based on:
MCCLATCHY NEWSPAPERS article (Stock sale timing lands Israeli
general in hot water), p. A5, S.L.P.D., 08/17/06]

2006 - Ancient Figurines / Shaanxi, China -
August 17th, 2006: "Archaeologists have unearthed two 2,500-year-old terra
cotta figurines that are possible predecessors to the statue the army buried
with China's first emperor, state media reported. the 4-inch-tall figurines
were made by the nation of Qin before its ruler unified China in 221 B.C.,
the China Daily newspaper and Xinhua News Agency said this week. [....]"
[Based on: News Services article (Unearthed figurines are 2,500 years old),
p. A6, S.L.P.D., 08/17/06]

2006 - Already Rebuilding Lebanon / Hezbollah -
August 17th, 2006: "Only days fater guns fell silent, Hezbollah has emerged
as the lead player in the cleanup in the towns and villages of Southern Lebanon.
[....]" [Based on: Los Angeles Times article, p. A5, S.L.P.D., 08/17/06]

2006 - Lebanese Army / South Lebanon - August
18th, 2006: "Villagers throwing rice and Hezbollah guerrillas holding banners
welcomed the country's army to south Lebanon on Thursday [08/17/06] after
a nearly 40-year absence. And the first airliner landed at Beirut airport
since fighting began more than a month ago. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article
(Lebanese in south welcome their army), p. A9, S.L.P.D., 08/18/06]

2006 - Hurricane Hector / Eastern Pacific -
August 18th, 2006: "Hurricane Hector formed in the eastern Pacific on August
15, 2006. Within a day, it had become organized enough to be classified as
a tropical storm and earn its name. As of August 18, Hector was a moderately
powerful Category 1 hurricane, traveling across the eastern Pacific. At that
time, it was not expected to develop much additional power or to make landfall.
[....]"

2006 - Burial Site Found / Srebrenica Massacre
- August 18th, 2006: "The bodies of more than 1,000 victims of the 1995
Srebrenica massacre have been exhumed from the largest mass grave found to
date in Bosnia-Herzegovina, forensic experts said Thursday [08/17/06] [....]
The team has exhumed 144 complete and 1,009 partial skeletons. [....]" [Based
on: News Services article (Srebrenica massacre burial site found), p. A6,
S.L.P.D., 08/18/06]

2006 - U.S. Airstrike Condemned / Afghanistan
- August 18th, 2006: "President Hamid Karzai condemned a U.S. airstrike Thursday
[08/17/06] that Afghan officials said killed 10 border policemen. Sixteen
other people died in violence around the country, including an American soldier
killed by a Soviet-era land mine. [....]" [Based on: News Services article
(U.S. airstrike is condemned), p. A6, S.L.P.D., 08/18/06]

But let us examine the evidence  so that you can come to your own
conclusion. The massive impact caused the entire plane to disappear 30ft
deep into the earth, telescoping down on itself and crushing everyone and
everything inside the fuselage beyond recognition.

However, the absence of any significant debris  including tailplane
and wings  bewildered witnesses, relatives and, more importantly, some
crash experts.

They found it hard to believe that an airliner up to 155ft long, with two
engines each weighing more than six tons, could have penetrated the ground
so completely as to utterly disappear. Had it, in reality, been blown to
pieces in mid-air?

CERTAINLY, it is unclear how a single piece of fuselage the size of a dining
room table could have been recovered from a marina in Indian Lake, a couple
of miles away from the crash site  unless it fell from the sky during
an aerial break-up.

But a bigger mystery is why the engines went missing.

Considering their weight, they should have plunged deep into the earth along
with the rest of the airliner.

Yet they werent in the crater and only a one-ton segment of an engine
was ever recovered, again more than a mile from the crash site. The FBI said,
unconvincingly, that it had bounced there.

The FBI also claimed metal fragments found up to eight miles away could have
been carried there by the wind, even though the breeze was very light.

Witnesses said nothing was left at the crash site, yet the FBI belatedly
claimed to have made two sensational discoveries  a red bandana and
a passport allegedly belonging to the hijackers.

Very conveniently, these turned up as prosecution evidence earlier this year
at the trial of Zacarias Moussaoui, the socalled 20th hijacker and only terrorist
to be convicted over the 9/11 atrocities.

Last night, a geomagnetic storm sent spectacular auroras
rippling across Scandinavia: "It was almost scary to see the 'flames' in
the sky," says Chris Folde of Selbu, Norway. "I've never experienced anything
like it."

Across the border in Sweden, the auroras had competition
from the midnight sun. No problem. "The display was so strong, I was able
to take many pictures," says Patricia Cowern of Porjus, Sweden: [....]

What caused all this? Around mid-day on August 19th,
the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) tipped south, opening a crack in
Earth's magnetic defenses. Solar wind poured in and fueled the display.

[Based on: http://spaceweather.com/] - [08/21/06]

2006 - Hezbollah Helps
Bombing Victims / Lebanon- August 19th,
2006: "In an embarrassment to the Lebanese government, Hezbollah started
handing out crisp $100 bills Friday [08/18/06] to residents who lost their
homes in the Israeli bombing campaign - $12,000 to each claimant at a school
in south Beirut. There were no lines and no waiting at the Shahed School
in Bourj el-Barajneh neighborhood. [....]" [Based on: Article (Hezbollah
helps out bombing victims with American cash), p. A26, S.L.P.D., 08/19/06]

2006 - U.S. Court Backing
/ Agent Orange Claims - August 19th, 2006:
"[....] The court order, issued Wednesday [08/16/06], reverses the Veterans
Affairs Department's denial of benefits for Jonathan L. Has. He argued
that clouds of the toxic defoliate, which the U.S. sprayed on Vietnamese
jungles, drifted out to sea, engulfing his ship and landing on his skin.
The Veterans Affairs Department said Friday [08/18/06] that it was reviewing
the opinion." [Based on: Article (Court backs veterans on Agent Orange claims),
p. A25, S.L.P.D., 08/19/06]

2006 - Approved for Making Cold Cuts Safer / Virus
Spray? - August 19th, 2006: "[....] Consumers won't be aware that meat
and poultry products have been treated with the spray, Zajac [Andrew Zajac]
added. The Department of Agriculture will regulate the actual use of the
product [the president & CEO of manufacturer Intralytix Inc. is John
Vazzana]." [Based on: A.P. article (Virus spray is approved for making cold
cuts safer to eat), p. A25, S.L.P.D., 08/19/06] - [Brackets text added for
clarity - D.R.D.]

2006 - Ten Commandments Display / Haskell County,
Oklahona - August 19th, 2006: "[....] The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled
that religious displays on government property are not inherently
unconstitutional and must be considered on a case-by-case basis." [Based
on: Article (Judge allows monument of ten Commandments), p. A25, S.L.P.D.,
08/19/06]

*Trivia: "The European Union on Monday [08/21/06]
asked the U.S. government to supply details of an unapproved, gene-modified
rice made by Bayer CorpScience AG that was found in U.S. rice supplies and
may prompt an EU import ban. [....] Bayer field-tested the modified rice
from 1998 to 2001, and it tainted the 2005 crop. In response to a similar
incident last year, the EU banned U.S. corn imports. Meanwhile, the Japanese
government on Saturday [08/19/06] banned imports of U.S. long-grain rice
after the announcement late last week of the gene-modified rice. Japan was
the second-largest buyer of U.S. rice in the last five years, trailing only
Mexico. [....] Mochan [EU spokeswoman Antonia Mochan] said she did not know
whether the taineted rice had been exported to Europe. Last year, the EU
blocked U.S. imports of corn animal feed for 10 days after Syngenta AG said
it had accidentally sold an experimental engineered corn that was planted
on 37,000 acres in four U.S. states. In 2004, the EU ended a six-year moratorium
on approving gene-altered crops, overriding consumer concerns that biotech
crops may harm human health and the environment. [....] In 2005 the U.S.
exported 224,000 metric tons of rice to the 25-nation EU, worth about $82
million, 198,000 tons of which was long-grain rice, the European Commission
said. The Agriculture Department and the Food and Drug Administration concluded
there are 'no human health, food safety or environmental concerns associated
with the rice,' Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns said Friday
[08/18/06]."[Based on: News Services article,
p. D2, S.L.P.D., 08/22/06]

2006 - Trivia / U.S. Anthrax Vaccine - August
20th, 2006: "Almost five years later after a deadly series of mailed anthrax
attacks prompted warnings that a new anthrax vaccine was 'urgently needed,'
the nation's nearly $1 billion effort to develop the drug is in trouble.
The company, VaxGen, is about a year behind schedule on its latest contract,
the first and biggest under the federal antiterrorism program Project BioShield.
And the delay could grow by at least another year because of a dispute with
the government over how the vaccine should be tested. [....]" [Based on:
San Jose Mercury News Article (Quest for anthrax vaccine hits some
hurdles), p. A7, S.L.P.D., 08/20/06]

2006 - Trivia / U.S. Torture Coverup, Vietnam War
- August 20th, 2006: "When contacted recently at his home in Colorado,
Herbert declined to be quoted about the Army investigation, except to say:
'If they'd really taken action about the bad apples and been honest about
it ... then they wouldn't be arguing about Abu Ghraib and different places
today.' " [Based on: Title & Subtitle for Los Angeles Times article
(Military covered up torture by soldiers in Vietnam War / Army tried to discredit
whistleblower [Lt. Col. Anthony B. Herbert], records show), p. A16 (last
article, last page of Sunday paper), S.L.P.D., 08/20/06]

2006 - Potentially Deadly Asteroids / Inner Solar
System - August 20th, 2006: "[....] Experts say that the inner solar
system has about 1,100 such bodies that are at least a half-mile across and
that any one of them could unleash a global cataclysm capable of killing
millions. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Astronomers seek to avert a deadly
collision), p. A4, S.L.P.D., 08/20/06]

2006 - Next Threat to U.S. Airliners? / Shoulder-Fired
Missles - August 20th, 2006: "Is this the next threat to U.S. airliners?
[picture of man aiming a shoulder-fired missle] / Shoulder-Launched Missles
- Northrop Grumman is testing a system that disrupts the missle's guidance
system." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for Article (front page headline),
p. A1, S.L.P.D., 08/20/06]

2006 - Trivia / EA-18G Growler - August 21th,
2006: "The EA-18G Growler, the world's most advanced electronic attack aircraft,
recently completed its first flight [08/15/06]. Under budget, under weight
and ahead of schedule, the EA-18G is a vital asset, critical to neutralizing
threats and protecting our warfighters. The St. Louis EA-18G Team is proud
to fly this remarkable aircraft and to meet or exceed all performance
requirements of our U.S. Navy customer." [Based on: Full-page picture
add/article (EA-18G. UP FOR THE FIGHT.), p. A5, S.L.P.D.,
08/21/06]

2006 - Under Way / 2nd Saddam Trial - August
21th, 2006: "Second Saddam trial gets under way today / This one centers
on the tens of thousands killed in the Iraqi army's offensive against the
Kurds in the 1980s." [Based on: Title & Subtitle for A.P. article, p.
A6, S.L.P.D., 08/21/06]

2006 - Hurricane Ioke / Pacific Ocean - August
21st, 2006: "Hurricane Ioke formed started life, as all tropical cyclones
do, as a depression. After forming August 19, 2006, the depression quickly
developed into a tropical storm, the threshold for earning a name. Ioke is
the Hawaiian word for the name Joyce. Storms and hurricanes in the central
Pacific are unusual, but they occur often enough for there to be a naming
convention, applied by the Central Pacific Hurricane Center in Honolulu.
The last named central Pacific storm was Huko in 2002. Ioke rose all the
way to hurricane strength in less than 24 hours.

This image [see link] of Hurricane Ioke shows the powerful
Category 4 hurricane as it was passing south of the Hawaiian Islands. The
image was taken by the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite
at 20:45 UTC (9:45 am HST) on August 21, 2006, and shows the horizontal pattern
of rain intensity within Ioke. [....]"

2006 - Proof of Dark Matter? - August 22nd,
2006: "By watching galaxies collide 3 billion light years away, scientists
say they have found evidence of the mysterious dark matter that makes up
around 20 percent of the universe. [....] They believe dark matter consists
of some sort of invisible particles, which account for 80 or 90 percent of
the mass of the universe, but do not interact with ordinary, visible matter.
[....]" [Based on: Conta Costa Times article (Scientists say they
have proof of dark matter) by Betsy Mason, p. A4, S.L.P.D., 08/22/06]

2006 - Protestors Take Over Radio Stations / Oaxaca,
Mexico - August 22nd, 2006: "Protestors take over radio stations [demanding
punishment for an attack on a state-owned radio station that has been occupied
since Aug. 1." [Based on: Title for News Services article, p. A6, S.L.P.D.,
08/22/06]

2006 - Moon Impacts? - August 23rd, 2006: "In
only 30 hours of observing, astronomers at the Marshall Space Flight Center
have recently photographed seven explosions of light on the Moon. Each one,
they believe, was caused by a meteoroid falling from the sky and hitting
the ground. [....] The flashes seen by the Marshall group ranged in brightness
from 7th to 9th magnitude, which means they were invisible to the human eye,
but easy targets for backyard telescopes. Amateur astronomers are thus invited
to join the hunt."

[Based on: http://spaceweather.com/] - [08/23/06]

2006 -Fighting Eases / Congo- August
23rd, 2006: "The United Nations called for an immediate cease fire Tuesday
[08/22/06] by rival army supporters of Congo's two presidential candidates,
and three days of deadly fighting ebbed as the European Union sent reinforcements
to the restive Central African nation. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Fighting
eases in Congo as U.N. pushes for truce), p. A9, S.L.P.D., 08/23/06]

2006 - Ready for Talks? / Iran - August 23rd,
2006: "Iran said Tuesday [08/22/06] it was ready for 'serious negotiations'
on its nuclear program, offering a new formula to resolve a crisis with the
West. A semiofficial news agency says the government was unwilling to abandon
uranium enrichment - the key U.S. demand. Iran delivered its written response
to a package of incentives offered by the United States and five other world
powers to persuade Iran to roll back on its nuclear program - and punishments
if it does not. The world powers, the five permanent U.N. Security Council
members plus Germany, have given Iran until Aug. 31 to accept the package.
[....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Iran says it is ready for 'serious' talks),
p. A11, S.L.P.D., 08/23/06]

*Trivia: "The United States said Wednesday [08/23/06] that a proposal
by Iran for nuclear negotiations fell short of U.N. demands that it cease
uranium enrichment. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article
(Nuclear proposal doesn't meet expectations, U.S. says), p. A6, S.L.P.D.,
08/24/06]

2006 - Half Power / New Orleans - August 23rd,
2006: "Half as much power [than before Hurricane Katrina] is on in New Orleans"
[Based on: Article Title, p. C2, S.L.P.D., 08/23/06]

2006 - Trivia / U.S. Roadway Deaths - August
23rd, 2006: "The number of people killed on U.S. roadways last year climbed
to the highest level in 15 years, an increase tied to rising deaths among
motorcyclists and pedestrians, the federal government reported Tuesday
[08/22/06]. A total of 43,443 people died in traffic accidents last year,
up 1.4 percent from the previous year, according to the National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration. [....]" [Based on: Washington Post
article (U.S. roadway deaths rose in '05; motorcycle fatalities led way),
p. A4, S.L.P.D., 08/23/06]

2006 - Trivia / Options Abuses, U.S.A. - August
23rd, 2006: "[....] Every day, more companies - many of them in the technology
sector - become ensnared in government or internal inquiries examining whether
company insiders rigged stock options to ensure larger windfalls without
properly disclosing or accounting for the manipulation. The SEC itself says
it has at least 80 companies under examination, focusing on cases of serious
fraud, with elements such as deliberately lying, forging documents or deceiving
directors or investors, agency chairman Christopher Cox said recently. Another
number: just over 2,000 public companies have timing issues. That's 29 percent
of those in the United States that give stock options to executives, according
to Erik Lie, an associate professor of finance at the University of Iowa,
and Randall Heron, an associate finance professor at Indianna University.
[....]" [Based on: A.P. article (Options abuses might become too much / At
least 75 companies are under scrutiny, but high-profile cases may get most
of the attention.), p. C2, S.L.P.D., 08/23/06]

2006 - Hurricane Ileana / Pacific Ocean - August
23rd, 2006: "Hurricane Ileana started as all tropical cyclones do, as a
depressionan area of low atmospheric pressure. After forming August
21, 2006, the depression quickly developed into a tropical storm, the threshold
for earning a name. As happens with some tropical storms, but for reasons
not completely well understood to date, Ileana rose all the way to hurricane
strength in less than 24 hours. This photo-like image [see link] was acquired
by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on the Aqua
satellite on August 23, 2006, at 2:00 p.m. local time (21:00 UTC). Hurricane
Ileana at the time of this image had a well-defined spiral shape and arm
structure, with apparent strong thunderstorms (puffy clouds) in regions of
the arm structure. The storm also had a well-defined, cloud-filled (or
closed) eye at its center. At the time of this satellite observation,
Hurricane Ileana had sustained winds of around 200 kilometers per hour (120
miles per hour), according to the University of Hawaiis Tropical Storm
Information Center. [....]"

2006 - Involuntary Recall / U.S. Marines - August
23rd, 2006: "The Marine Corps will soon begin ordering thousands [up to 2,500]
of its troops back to active duty because of a shortage of volunteers for
Iraq and Afghanistan - the first involuntary recall since the early days
of the war." [Based on: A.P. article (Involuntary call-ups will bolster Marines
in Iraq), p. A11, S.L.P.D., 08/23/06]

2006 -Halts Review of War with Hezbollah /
Israel - August 23rd, 2006: "After only one day's work, the Israeli government
suspended its review of the way it conducted the war in Lebanon, officials
said Tuesday [08/22/06], amid mounting protests by critics pressing for a
broader investigation and the resignation of top political figures. [....]
Scores of reserve soldiers freshly returned from the front lines in Lebanon
took to the streets of Jerusalem on Tuesday [08/22/06], demanding that Olmert,
his defense minister and the army's chief of staff step down. The demonstrators
accused the three of rushing into full-scale armed conflict without adequately
laying the military groundwork, and then dithering over the war's objectives
and how to realize them. That resulted in confusing and sometimes needlessly
perilous orders on the ground, they said. [....] Israeli President Moshe
Katsav will face questioning in a sexual harassment investigation, police
said Tuesday after seizing computers and documents in a latenight raid
on his official residence. The investigation marked the latest in a string
of scandals involving top officials and shocked the country at a time of
growing malaise after the recent war in Lebanon and discontent with the nation's
leaders." [Based on: Los Angeles Times article (Israel halts review
of war with Hezbollah), p. A9, S.L.P.D., 08/23/06] - [Note: The
Washington Post & A.P. contributed to this report.]

*Trivia: "Prosecutors said Thursday [08/24/06]
that they found no evidence of a terrorist threat aboard a Northwest Airlines
flight to India that returned to Amsterdam, and they are releasing all 12
passengers arrested after the emergency landing. The men, all Indian nationals,
had aroused suspicions on Flight NW0042 to Bombay because they had a large
number of cell phones, laptops and hard drives, and refused to follow the
crew's instructions, prosecutors said. [....]" [Based on: News Services article
(Investigation finds no threat to plane), p. A11, S.L.P.D., 08/25/06]

2006 -Data
Brokers Sued / U.S.A. - August 24th, 2006:
"AT&T Inc., the largest U.S. phone company, on Wednesday [08/23/06] sued
25 data brokers, alleging they got unauthorized access to customer account
information and asking a court to help identify them and halt the practice.
[....] 'AT&T does not know how the defendants obtained the personal
information,' the complaint said. The defendants can't be identified by anything
more than an e-mail address and the Internet protocol addresses of the computers
they used. [....]" [Based on: Bloomberg News article (Data brokers
may get a call from AT&T's lawyers / Company needs court to order Internet
service providers to turn over identities of defendants), p. C2, S.L.P.D.,
08/24/06]

2006 - Declared a Dwarf Planet / Pluto - August
24th, 2006:

Today at the International Astronomical Union (IAU)
General Assembly in Prague, astronomers decided that the Solar System has
eight planets, and Pluto is not one of them. Instead, Pluto is a "dwarf planet."

To be a planet, the assembly ruled, a world must meet
three criteria:

(1) It must have enough mass and gravity to gather
itself into a ball.

(2) It must orbit the sun.

(3) It must reign supreme in its own orbit, having
"cleared the neighborhood" of other competing bodies.

So, e.g., mighty Jupiter, which circles the sun supreme
in its own orbit, is a planet--no adjective required. Pluto, on the other
hand, shares the outer solar system with thousands of Pluto-like objects.
Because it has not "cleared its own neighborhood," it is a dwarf planet.

This decision clarifies the vocabulary of planetary
astronomy while simultaneously upturning 76 years of "Pluto is a planet"
pop-culture. Will non-specialists heed Pluto's demotion? That remains to
be seen. Meanwhile, according to the IAU, the Solar System has eight planets:
Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune; and three
dwarf planets: Ceres, Pluto and 2003 UB313.

2006 - International Force? / Syrian Border -
August 24th, 2006: "Syria said Wednesday [08/23/06] that it opposed the
deployment of an international force along its border to prevent arms shipments
to Hezbollah, while Israel called the situation in Lebanon 'explosive.' [....]"
[Based on: A.P. article (Israel firm on blockade as Syria objects to force
along its border), p. A10, S.L.P.D., 08/24/06]

2006 - Strong Earthquake / Near East Coast of Kamchatka,
Russia - August 24th, 2006: "A strong earthquake occurred at 21:50:38
(UTC) on Thursday, August 24th, 2006. The magnitude 6.5 event has been located
@: NEAR THE EAST COAST OF KAMCHATKA, RUSSIA."

2006 -Buys into Energy Company / Arch Coal
- August 25th, 2006: "Arch Coal Inc. on Thursday [08/24/06] said it has purchased
a stake in DKRW Advanced Fuels Inc., the unit of a Houston energy company
that is planning to build plants to convert coal into diesel and jet fuel.
[....]" [Based on: Article (Arch Coal buys into energy company / DKRW will
build plants to convert coal into diesel and jet fuel.), p. B2, S.L.P.D.,
08/25/06]

2006 - Ash Plume / Semeru Volcano, Java - August
25th, 2006: "Semeru Volcano, on the island of Java, emitted another modest
cloud of volcanic ash and/or steam in late August 2006. The Moderate Resolution
Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) flying onboard NASAs Terra satellite
captured this image [see link] on August 25. The volcanic plume can be
distinguished from the nearby clouds by its dull color and diffuse shape.
In contrast, the clouds in this image appear as discrete white dots. During
the spring and summer of 2006, Semeru released many of its plumes not in
continuous streams but in series of burps. This plume appears
to follow the same pattern; while a fairly sizable plume blows off to the
west, another puff appears at the summit. [....]"

2006 -Shut Down / Fannie Mae Investigation- August 25th, 2006: "[....] Federal prosecutors in Washington confirmed
they had shut down their investigation of Fannie Mae's faulty accounting
after two years, But the Securities and Exchange Commission still could bring
civil actions against individual executives, including people no longer at
Fannie Mae." [Based on: Article (Fannie Mae heaves sigh), p. B2, S.L.P.D.,
08/25/06]

"Evidence continues to mount that the next solar cycle
(Solar Cycle 24) is beginning. For the second time in a month, a backward
sunspot has appeared. The first backward spot, sighted on July 31st, was
tiny and fleeting. The latest, however, is big and sturdy, bipolar sunspot
905: [....]

"Backward" means magnetically backward. Compared to
how sunspots have been during the past 11-year solar cycle, the north and
south magnetic poles of sunspot 905 are reversed. This is what happens when
one solar cycle gives way to another--sunspots reverse polarity.

The onset of Solar Cycle 24 is big news, because the
cycle is expected to be intense, but don't expect any big storms right away.
Solar cycles take years to ramp up to full power. The next Solar Max is expected
in 2010.

[Based on: http://spaceweather.com/] - [08/25/06]

2006 - Global Hawk Unmanned Aircraft / U.S.A. -
August 26th, 2006: "The first production model of the latest version of the
$28 million Global Hawk unmanned aircraft was unveiled Friday [08/25/06]
at a Northrop Grumman Corp. plant in California, an Air Force official said.
The Block 20 series of the Global Hawk can carry a 3,000-pound payload, or
double the weight of the earlier Block 10 model, said Randy Brown, director
of the Air Force's 303rd Aeronautical Systems Group. The plane is designed
to fly without a human pilot at high altitude, roam for 10,000 miles and
stay in the air for 40 hours at a time. The Air Force contracted for six
of the Block 20 aircraft. Two more-advanced versions - the Block 30 and Block
40 - also are in development, Brown said." [Based on: Article (Northrop Grumman
unveils bigger Hawk), p. A32, S.L.P.D., 08/26/06]

2006 - Guilty Pleas / Iraq Construction Money Theft
- August 26th, 2006: "A former U.S. Army Reserve officer [Bruce D.
Hopfengardner] admitted Friday [08/25/06] that he steered millions of dollars
in Iraq reconstruction contracts in exchange for jewelery, computers, cigars
and sexual favors. [....] He admitted conspiring with Philip H. Bloom, a
U.S. citizen with businesses in Romania; Robert J. Stein Jr., a former Defense
Department contract official; and others to create a corrupt bidding process
that included the theft of $2 million in reconstruction money. Bloom and
Stein already have pleaded guilty to charges stemming from the scheme." [Based
on: news Services article, p. A27, S.L.P.D., 08/26/06]

2006 - Cancer-Causing Benzene? / U.S. Soft Drinks
- August 26th, 2006: "Coca-Cola Co. was sued Friday [08/25/06] as part
of an effort to force soft-drink makers to eliminate ingredients in their
products that can form cancer-causing benzene. The complaint against the
soft drink giant came as two smaller companies settled a lawsuit over benzene,
which is linked to leukemia. [....] Benzene can form in soft drinks containing
vitamin C, also called ascorbic acid, and either sodium benzoate or potassium
benzoate. Scientists say factors such as heat or light exposure can trigger
a reaction that forms benzene in the beverages. According to the suits,
independent laboratory tests found benzene in the drinks at levels above
the federal limit for benzene in drinking water. [....] FDA officials say
their is no safety concern and that levels are relatively low compared with
other sources of exposure to benzene." [Based on: A.P. article (Coke is sued
over its soft drink ingredients) by Libby Quaid, p. A33, S.L.P.D., 08/26/06]

2006 - Hurricane Ernesto / Caribbean Sea - August
27th, 2006: "Hurricane Ernesto formed in the eastern Caribbean Sea on August
24, 2006. Within a day, it had become organized enough to be classified as
a tropical storm and get named as the fifth storm of the 2006 Atlantic hurricane
season, Tropical Storm Ernesto. Ernesto built in power gradually as it moved
westward and slightly north through the Caribbean Sea, just reaching hurricane
strength on August 27 as it neared Hispaniola, the island on which the nations
of Haiti and Dominican Republic are located. Ernesto was the first storm
of the 2006 Atlantic season to reach hurricane strength. [....]"

2006 - Collapses / JonBenet Case - August 29th,
2006: "JonBenet case collapses [08/28/06] / DNA DIDN'T MATCH:
Tests failed to put Karr at the scene of the killing of the girl, 6, in her
home in 1996. NEXT MOVE: California officials asked that Karr
be sent there to face child pornography charges." [Based on: Title
& Subtitles for Article, p. A1, S.L.P.D., 08/29/06]

2006 - Indicted / Congolese Warlord - August
29th, 2006: "Prosecutors at the International Criminal Court filed their
first indictment Monday [08/28/06], charging a former Congolese warlord [Thomas
Lubanga] with allegedly abducting and recruiting children as young as 10
to fight in Congo's civil war. [....] ... as many as 30,000 children were
recruited to fight by the various Congolese militias. [....]" [Based on:
News Services article (International court indicts former warlord), p. A7,
S.L.P.D., 08/29/06]

2006 - Shiite Militia Control / Diwaniyah, Iraq
- August 29th, 2006: "Fighting that went on through the night and most
of Monday [08/28/06] drew more and more Iraqi soldiers in to try to put down
a Shiite militia. But by the end of the battle, the militia controlled a
large swath of this southern city [Diwaniyah, Iraq] - and among the 40 killed
were 25 Iraqi army soldiers. [....] The U.S. military command announced that
nine U.S. soldiers had been killed over the weekend in or around Baghdad
- eight by roadside bombs and one by gunfire. [....]" [Based on: A.P. article
(After bloody fight, militia controls area of city), p. A7, S.L.P.D., 08/29/06]

2006 - "The Dogs of War" - August 30th, 2006:
"[....] In speeches to the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Reno on Monday [08/28/06]
and to the American Legion in Salt Lake City Tuesday [08/29/06], Mr Cheney
and Mr. Rumsfeld made the following charges:*That
the news media, by not accepting the administration's version of events,
contribute to, in Mr. Rumsfeld's words, 'the moral and intellectual confusion
about who and what is right or wrong,' and can 'severly weaken the ability
of free societies to persevere.' *Islamic terrorist groups 'are actively
manipulating the media in this country,' lying 'constantly and almost without
penalty,' again in Mr. Rumsfeld's words. [....] *That victory in Iraq is
part of a long-standing terrorist dream to have a country of their own from
which to mount further attacks, thus establishing - in Mr. Cheney's words
- 'a totalitarian empire that encompasses a region from Spain, across North
Africa, through the Middle East and South Asia, all the way around to Indonesia.'
Thus, in just a few short years, Iraq has gone from a war about eliminating
Saddam Hussein's weapons of mass destruction and planting democracy in the
Middle East, to a do-or-die stand against the formation of a worldwide terrorist
empire. Talk about mission creep. [....]" [Based on: Opinion Page
article (The Dogs of War), p. B8, S.L.P.D., 08/30/06]

2006 - Near-Record Drought / U.S.A. - August
30th, 2006: "The government promised nearly $800 million in aid Tuesday
[08/29/06] to ranchers and farmers stricken by a near-record drought. [....]
The secretary [Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanna] said 64 percent of the
nation's beef cows and breeding stock are in drought-stricken areas and many
ranchers are being forced to cull their herds. Drought is also stressing
fields of cotton, wheat, sorghum, peanuts and other crops. Last month was
the hottest July since the Dust Bowl in 1936, Drought has approached records
in many parts of the country, where conditions have been driest from May
through June since 1988." [Based on: News Services article (Nearly $800 million
in drought aid promised), p. A5, S.L.P.D., 08/30/06]

2006 - Speaks About Iraq War Critics / DonaldRumsfeld - August 30th, 2006: "Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld
said Tuesday [08/29/06] that critics of the war in Iraq and the campaign
against terrorist groups 'seem not to have learned history's lessons' and
compared them to those in the 1930s who advocated appeasing Nazi Germany.
[....]" [Based on: New York Times article (Rumsfeld: War's critics
ignore 'history's lessons'), p. A1, S.L.P.D., 08/30/06]

*Commentary:"Did Nazi Germany fire
tons of depleted uranium over the soil of other countries? Like the United
States? What is the more insane? To argue for against this practice?"
[D.R.D.]

2006 - Anti-U.S. Message / Hugo Chavez - August
31st, 2006: "Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez received a hero's welcome in
Syria, where he said Wednesday [08/30/06] that the two countries will 'build
a new world' free of U.S. domination and vowed to one day 'dig the grave
of U.S. imperialism.' [....] His trips also coincide with Venezuela's push
to win a rotating seat on the U.N. Security Council, over U.S. opposition."
[Based on: News Services article, p. A8, S.L.P.D., 08/31/06]

2006 - Novak's Source / Richard Armitage - August
31st, 2006: "Ex-official [former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, Richard
Armitage] is said to admit he was Novak's source" [Based on: Title for New
York Times article, p. A2, S.L.P.D., 08/31/06]

2006 - Divulge Information? / Second-Hand Cell Phones
- August 31st, 2006: "[....] Flash memory is inexpensive and durable.
But it is slow to erase information in ways that make it impossible to recover.
So manufacturers compensate with methods that erase data less completely
but don't make a phone seem sluggish. [....]" [Based on: Title for A.P. article
(Second-hand cell phones divulge business deals and adultery), p. A3, S.L.P.D.,
08/31/06]